Chapter V (32)

Disputes--international: territorial disputes with Colombia over
the Archipelago de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank;
with respect to the maritime boundary question in the Golfo de
Fonseca, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) referred the
disputants to an earlier agreement in this century and advised that
some tripartite resolution among El Salvador, Honduras, and
Nicaragua likely would be required; maritime boundary dispute with
Honduras

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine destined for the US

======================================================================

@Niger -----

Geography

Location: Western Africa, southeast of Algeria

Geographic coordinates: 16 00 N, 8 00 E

Map references: Africa

Area:
total: 1.267 million sq km
land: 1,266,700 sq km
water: 300 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Land boundaries:
total: 5,697 km
border countries: Algeria 956 km, Benin 266 km, Burkina Faso 628 km,
Chad 1,175 km, Libya 354 km, Mali 821 km, Nigeria 1,497 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Climate: desert; mostly hot, dry, dusty; tropical in extreme south

Terrain: predominately desert plains and sand dunes; flat to
rolling plains in south; hills in north

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Niger River 200 m
highest point: Mont Greboun 1,944 m

Natural resources: uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates,
gold, petroleum

Land use:
arable land: 3%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 7%
forests and woodland: 2%
other: 88% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 660 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: recurring droughts

Environment--current issues: overgrazing; soil erosion;
deforestation; desertification; wildlife populations (such as
elephant, hippopotamus, giraffe, and lion) threatened because of
poaching and habitat destruction

Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test
Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the
Sea

Geography--note: landlocked

People

Population: 9,962,242 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 48% (male 2,445,536; female 2,346,844)
15-64 years: 50% (male 2,421,971; female 2,518,248)
65 years and over: 2% (male 121,253; female 108,390) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.95% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 52.31 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 22.78 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.12 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 112.79 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 41.96 years
male: 42.22 years
female: 41.7 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 7.24 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Nigerien(s)
adjective: Nigerien

Ethnic groups: Hausa 56%, Djerma 22%, Fula 8.5%, Tuareg 8%, Beri
Beri (Kanouri) 4.3%, Arab, Toubou, and Gourmantche 1.2%, about 1,200
French expatriates

Religions: Muslim 80%, remainder indigenous beliefs and Christians

Languages: French (official), Hausa, Djerma

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 13.6%
male: 20.9%
female: 6.6% (1995 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Niger
conventional short form: Niger
local long form: Republique du Niger
local short form: Niger

Data code: NG

Government type: republic

Capital: Niamey

Administrative divisions: 7 departments (departements,
singular--departement), and 1 capital district* (capitale district);
Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi, Niamey*, Tahoua, Tillaberi, Zinder

Independence: 3 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday: Republic Day, 18 December (1958)

Constitution: the constitution of January 1993 was revised by
national referendum on 12 May 1996

Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ibrahim BARE Mainassara (since 28 January
1996); note--the president is both chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Ibrahim BARE Mainassara (since 28
January 1996); note--Ibrahim MAYAKI (since 27 November 1997) was
appointed prime minister by the president but does not exercise any
executive authority and is only the implementor of the president's
programs; the president is both chief of state and head of government
note: President Ibrahim BARE was assasinated on the 9 April 1999
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
last held 7-8 July 1996 (next to be held NA 2001); note--Ibrahim BARE
Mainassara initially became president when he ousted President
Mahamane OUSMANE in a coup on 27 January 1996 and subsequently
defeated him in the flawed election of July 1996
election results: percent of vote--Ibrahim BARE Mainassara 52.22%,
Mahamane OUSMANE 19.75%, Tandja MAMADOU 15.65%, Mahamadou ISSOUFOU
7.60%, Moumouni AMADOU Djermakoye 4.77%

Legislative branch: two-chamber National Assembly; one chamber
with 83 seats (members elected by popular vote for five-year terms);
selection process for second chamber not established
elections: last held 23 November 1996 (next to be held NA 2001)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--UNIRD
59, ANDPS-Zaman Lahiya 8, UDPS-Amana 3, coalition of independents 3,
MDP-Alkwali 1, UPDP-Shamuwa 4, DARAJA 3, PMT-Albarka 2

Judicial branch: State Court or Cour d'Etat; Court of Appeal or
Cour d'Appel

Political parties and leaders: Alliance for Democracy and
TALBA, chairman]; Democratic and Social Convention-Rahama or
MAMADOU, chairman]; National Union of Independents for Democratic
Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism-Tarayya or PNDS-Tarayya
Patriots, Democrats, and Progressives-Shamuwa or UPDP-Shamuwa
NA]

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC,
ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU,
MIPONUH, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB,
WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph DIATTA
chancery: 2204 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Charles O. CECIL
embassy: Rue Des Ambassades, Niamey
mailing address: B. P. 11201, Niamey

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of orange (top),
white, and green with a small orange disk (representing the sun)
centered in the white band; similar to the flag of India, which has
a blue spoked wheel centered in the white band

Economy

Economy--overview: Niger is a poor, landlocked Sub-Saharan nation,
whose economy centers on subsistence agriculture, animal husbandry,
reexport trade, and increasingly less on uranium, its major export
since the 1970s. The 50% devaluation of the West African franc in
January 1994 boosted exports of livestock, cowpeas, onions, and the
products of Niger's small cotton industry. The government relies on
bilateral and multilateral aid for operating expenses and public
investment and is strongly induced to adhere to structural
adjustment programs designed by the IMF and the World Bank.
Short-term prospects depend largely on upcoming negotiations on debt
relief and extended aid.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$9.4 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 4.5% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$970 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 40%
industry: 18%
services: 42% (1997)

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 29.3% (1992)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.8% (1998)

Labor force: 70,000 receive regular wages or salaries

Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 90%, industry and commerce
6%, government 4%

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $370 million (including $160 million from foreign sources)
expenditures: $370 million, including capital expenditures of $186
million (1998 est.)

Industries: cement, brick, textiles, food processing, chemicals,
slaughterhouses, and a few other small light industries; uranium
mining

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: 170 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 365 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 195 million kWh (1996)
note: imports electricity from Nigeria

Agriculture--products: cowpeas, cotton, peanuts, millet, sorghum,
cassava (tapioca), rice; cattle, sheep, goats, camels, donkeys,
horses, poultry

Exports: $269 million (f.o.b., 1997)

Exports--commodities: uranium ore 50%, livestock products 20%,
cowpeas, onions (1996 est.)

Exports--partners: Greece 21%, Canada 18%, France 12%, Nigeria 7%
(1996 est.)

Imports: $295 million (c.i.f., 1997)

Imports--commodities: consumer goods, primary materials,
machinery, vehicles and parts, petroleum, cereals

Imports--partners: France 17%, Cote d'Ivoire 7%, US 5%,
Belgium-Luxembourg 4%, Nigeria (1996 est.)

Debt--external: $1.2 billion (1998 est.)

Economic aid--recipient: $222 million (1995)

Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100
centimes

Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per
US$1--560.01 (January 1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55
(1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 14,000 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: small system of wire, radiotelephone
communications, and microwave radio relay links concentrated in
southwestern area
domestic: wire, radiotelephone communications, and microwave radio
relay; domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations and 1 planned
international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean
and 1 Indian Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 15, FM 6, shortwave 0

Radios: 620,000 (1995 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 10 (in addition, there are seven
low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions: 105,000 (1995 est.)

Transportation

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 10,100 km
paved: 798 km
unpaved: 9,302 km (1996 est.)

Waterways: Niger river is navigable 300 km from Niamey to Gaya on
the Benin frontier from mid-December through March

Ports and harbors: none

Airports: 27 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 18
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Army, Air Force, National Gendarmerie,
Republican Guard, National Police

Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 2,117,868 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,143,355 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 102,762 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $20 million (FY96/97)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.1% (FY96/97)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: Libya claims about 19,400 sq km in
northern Niger; delimitation of international boundaries in the
vicinity of Lake Chad, the lack of which led to border incidents in
the past, is completed and awaits ratification by Cameroon, Chad,
Niger, and Nigeria

======================================================================

@Nigeria -------

Geography

Location: Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between
Benin and Cameroon

Geographic coordinates: 10 00 N, 8 00 E

Map references: Africa

Area:
total: 923,770 sq km
land: 910,770 sq km
water: 13,000 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly more than twice the size of California

Land boundaries:
total: 4,047 km
border countries: Benin 773 km, Cameroon 1,690 km, Chad 87 km, Niger
1,497 km

Coastline: 853 km

Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 30 nm

Climate: varies; equatorial in south, tropical in center, arid in
north

Terrain: southern lowlands merge into central hills and plateaus;
mountains in southeast, plains in north

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Chappal Waddi 2,419 m

Natural resources: petroleum, tin, columbite, iron ore, coal,
limestone, lead, zinc, natural gas

Land use:
arable land: 33%
permanent crops: 3%
permanent pastures: 44%
forests and woodland: 12%
other: 8% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 9,570 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: periodic droughts

Environment--current issues: soil degradation; rapid
deforestation; desertification; recent droughts in north severely
affecting marginal agricultural activities

Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine
Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

People

Population: 113,828,587 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 45% (male 25,613,974; female 25,397,166)
15-64 years: 52% (male 30,272,539; female 29,197,611)
65 years and over: 3% (male 1,678,732; female 1,668,565) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.92% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 41.84 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 12.98 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 0.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 69.46 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 53.3 years
male: 52.55 years
female: 54.06 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.02 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Nigerian(s)
adjective: Nigerian

Ethnic groups: Hausa, Fulani, Yoruba, Ibo, Ijaw, Kanuri, Ibibio,
Tiv

Religions: Muslim 50%, Christian 40%, indigenous beliefs 10%

Languages: English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Ibo, Fulani

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 57.1%
male: 67.3%
female: 47.3% (1995 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Federal Republic of Nigeria
conventional short form: Nigeria

Data code: NI

Government type: republic transitioning from military to civilian
rule

Capital: Abuja
note: on 12 December 1991 the capital was officially moved from
Lagos to Abuja; many government offices remain in Lagos pending
completion of facilities in Abuja

Administrative divisions: 30 states and 1 territory*; Abia, Abuja
Federal Capital Territory*, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi,
Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna,
Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun,
Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe
note: the government has announced the creation of six additional
states named Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Gombe, Nassarawa, and Zamfara
as part of the process of transition to a civilian government

Independence: 1 October 1960 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 1 October (1960)

Constitution: 1979 constitution still partially in force

Legal system: based on English common law, Islamic law, and
tribal law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council and
Commander in Chief of Armed Forces Gen. Abdulsalami ABUBAKAR (since
9 June 1998) will remain chief of state and head of government until
29 May 1999 when President-elect Olusegun OBASANJO will be
inaugurated
head of government: Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council and
Commander in Chief of Armed Forces Gen. Abdulsalami ABUBAKAR (since
9 June 1998) will remain chief of state and head of government until
29 May 1999 when President-elect Olusegun OBASANJO will be
inaugurated
cabinet: Federal Executive Council
elections: the president is elected by popular vote for no more than
two four-year terms; election last held 27 February 1999 (next
election to be held NA 2003)
election results: Olusegun OBASANJO (PDP) won the election with NA%
of the vote, Olu FALAE (APP-AD) NA%

Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly consists of
Senate (109 seats, three from each state and one from the Federal
Capital Territory; members elected by popular vote to serve
seven-year terms) and House of Representatives (360 seats, members
elected by popular vote to serve seven-year terms)
elections: Senate--last held 20-24 February 1999 (next to be held NA
2006); House of Representatives--last held 20-24 February 1999 (next
to be held NA 2006)
election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--PDP 61, APP 24, AD 20, other 4; House of Representives--percent
of vote by party--NA; seats by party--PDP 206, APP 74, AD 68, others 12
note: the National Assembly was suspended by the military government
following the military takeover on 17 November 1993; the new
civilian government which was elected on 20 February 1999 is
expected to be inaugurated on 29 May 1999

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by the
Provisional Ruling Council; Federal Court of Appeal, judges are
appointed by the federal government on the advice of the Advisory
Judicial Committee

Political parties and leaders: political parties, suppressed by
the military government, were allowed to form in July 1998; three
parties were registered by the Provisional Ruling Council for
participation in local, state and national elections; All People's

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C
(suspended), CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUA, NAM,
OAU, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM,
UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNPREDEP, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Wakili Hassan ADAMU
chancery: 1333 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador William H. TWADDELL
embassy: 2 Eleke Crescent, Lagos
mailing address: P. O. Box 554, Lagos

Flag description: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist
side), white, and green

Economy

Economy--overview: The oil-rich Nigerian economy continues to be
hobbled by political instability, corruption, and poor macroeconomic
management. Nigeria's unpopular military rulers have failed to make
significant progress in diversifying the economy away from
overdependence on the capital intensive oil sector which provides
30% of GDP, 95% of foreign exchange earnings, and about 80% of
budgetary revenues. The government's resistance to initiating
greater transparency and accountability in managing the country's
multibillion dollar oil earnings continues to limit economic growth
and prevent an agreement with the IMF and bilateral creditors on a
staff-monitored program and debt relief. The largely subsistence
agricultural sector has failed to keep up with rapid population
growth, and Nigeria, once a large net exporter of food, now must
import food. Growth in 1999 may become negative because of continued
low oil prices and persistent inefficiencies in the system.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$106.2 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 1.6% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$960 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 33%
industry: 42%
services: 25% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line: 34.1% (1992-93 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.3%
highest 10%: 31.4% (1992-93)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 15% (1998 est.)

Labor force: 42.844 million

Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 54%, industry, commerce,
and services 19%, government 15%

Unemployment rate: 28% (1992 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $13.9 billion (1998 est.)
expenditures: $13.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
billion (1998 est.)

Industries: crude oil, coal, tin, columbite, palm oil, peanuts,
cotton, rubber, wood, hides and skins, textiles, cement and other
construction materials, food products, footwear, chemicals,
fertilizer, printing, ceramics, steel

Industrial production growth rate: 4.1% (1996)

Electricity--production: 13.78 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 60.94%
hydro: 39.06%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 13.74 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 50 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: cocoa, peanuts, palm oil, corn, rice,
sorghum, millet, cassava (tapioca), yams, rubber; cattle, sheep,
goats, pigs; timber; fish

Exports: $9.7 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports--commodities: petroleum and petroleum products 95%, cocoa,
rubber

Exports--partners: US 35%, Spain 11%, Italy 6%, France 6% (1997
est.)

Imports: $9.8 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Imports--commodities: machinery, chemicals, transportation
equipment, manufactured goods, food and animals

Imports--partners: US 14%, UK 11%, Germany 10%, France 8%,
Netherlands 5% (1997 est.)

Debt--external: $32 billion (1998 est.)

Economic aid--recipient: $39.2 million (1995)

Currency: 1 naira (N) = 100 kobo

Exchange rates: nairas (N) per US$1--21.886 (December 1998),
21.886 (1998), 21.886 (1997), 21.895 (1995), 21.996 (1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 405,100 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: average system limited by poor maintenance;
major expansion in progress
domestic: intercity traffic is carried by coaxial cable, microwave
radio relay, cellular network, and a domestic communications
satellite system with 20 earth stations
international: satellite earth stations--3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean
and 1 Indian Ocean); 1 coaxial submarine cable

Radio broadcast stations: AM 82, FM 32, shortwave 10 (1998 est.)

Radios: 17.2 million (1998 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 1 (government-controlled)

Televisions: 6.1 million (1998 est.)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 3,557 km
narrow gauge: 3,505 km 1.067-m gauge
standard gauge: 52 km 1.435-m gauge (1995)
note: years of neglect of both the rolling stock and the
right-of-way have seriously reduced the capacity and utility of the
system; a project to restore Nigeria's railways is now underway

Highways:
total: 51,000 km
paved: 26,000 km (including 2,044 km of expressways)
unpaved: 25,000 km (1998 est.)
note: many of the roads reported as paved may be graveled; because
of poor maintenance and years of heavy freight traffic (in part the
result of the failure of the railroad system), much of the road
system is barely useable

Waterways: 8,575 km consisting of the Niger and Benue rivers and
smaller rivers and creeks

Pipelines: crude oil 2,042 km; petroleum products 3,000 km;
natural gas 500 km

Ports and harbors: Calabar, Lagos, Onne, Port Harcourt, Sapele,
Warri

Merchant marine:
total: 38 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 371,499 GRT/631,425 DWT
ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 13, chemical tanker 3, oil tanker 20,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1998 est.)

Airports: 72 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 36
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 36
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 16
under 914 m: 18 (1998 est.)

Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Police Force

Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 25,967,281 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 14,890,337 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 1,201,738 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $236 million (1999)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 0.7% (1999)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: delimitation of international boundaries
in the vicinity of Lake Chad, the lack of which led to border
incidents in the past, is completed and awaits ratification by
Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria; dispute with Cameroon over land
and maritime boundaries around the Bakasi Peninsula is currently
before the International Court of Justice; maritime boundary dispute
with Equatorial Guinea because of disputed jurisdiction over
oil-rich areas in the Gulf of Guinea

Illicit drugs: facilitates movement of heroin en route from
Southeast and Southwest Asia to Western Europe and North America;
increasingly a transit route for cocaine from South America intended
for European, East Asian, and North American markets

======================================================================

@Niue ----

Geography

Location: Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of
Tonga

Geographic coordinates: 19 02 S, 169 52 W

Map references: Oceania

Area:
total: 260 sq km
land: 260 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area--comparative: 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 64 km

Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; modified by southeast trade winds

Terrain: steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location near Mutalau settlement 68 m

Natural resources: fish, arable land

Land use:
arable land: 19%
permanent crops: 8%
permanent pastures: 4%
forests and woodland: 19%
other: 50% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: typhoons

Environment--current issues: traditional methods of burning brush
and trees to clear land for agriculture have threatened soil
supplies which are not naturally very abundant

Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the
Sea

Geography--note: one of world's largest coral islands

People

Population: 2,103 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA

Population growth rate: 0.5% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population

Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population

Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population

Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA

Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman

Nationality:
noun: Niuean(s)
adjective: Niuean

Ethnic groups: Polynesian (with some 200 Europeans, Samoans, and
Tongans)

Religions: Ekalesia Niue (Niuean Church) 75%--a Protestant church
closely related to the London Missionary Society, Latter-Day Saints
10%, other 15% (mostly Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witnesses,
Seventh-Day Adventist)

Languages: Polynesian closely related to Tongan and Samoan,
English

Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: 95%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Niue

Data code: NE

Dependency status: self-governing in free association with New
Zealand; Niue fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand
retains responsibility for external affairs

Government type: self-governing parliamentary democracy

Capital: Alofi

Administrative divisions: none; note--there are no first-order
administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there
are 14 villages each with its own village council whose members are
elected and serve three-year terms

Independence: on 19 October 1974, Niue became a self-governing
parliamentary government in free association with New Zealand

National holiday: Waitangi Day, 6 February (1840) (Treaty of
Waitangi established British sovereignty)

Constitution: 19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act)

Legal system: English common law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); the UK
and New Zealand are represented by New Zealand High Commissioner
Warren SEARELL (since NA August 1993)
head of government: Premier Frank Fakaotimanava LUI (since 12 March
1993)
cabinet: Cabinet consists of the premier and three ministers
elections: the monarch is hereditary; premier elected by the
Legislative Assembly for a three-year term; election last held 23
February 1996 (next to be held NA March 1999)
election results: Frank Fakaotimanava LUI elected premier; percent
of Legislative Assembly vote--NA

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly (20 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms; six
elected from a common roll and 14 are village representatives)
elections: last held 23 February 1996 (next to be held NA March 1999)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--NPP 9,
independents 11

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of New Zealand; High Court of Niue

Political parties and leaders: Niue People's Action Party or NPP

International organization participation: ESCAP (associate),
Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US: none (self-governing
territory in free association with New Zealand)

Diplomatic representation from the US: none (self-governing
territory in free association with New Zealand)

Flag description: yellow with the flag of the UK in the upper
hoist-side quadrant; the flag of the UK bears five yellow
five-pointed stars--a large one on a blue disk in the center and a
smaller one on each arm of the bold red cross

Economy

Economy--overview: The economy is heavily dependent on aid and
remittances from New Zealand as Niue has no indigenous export
products. Government expenditures regularly exceed revenues, and the
shortfall is made up by grants from New Zealand which are used to
pay wages to public employees. Niue has cut government expenditures
by reducing the public service by almost half. The agricultural
sector consists mainly of subsistence gardening, although some cash
crops are grown for export. Industry consists primarily of small
factories to process passion fruit, lime oil, honey, and coconut
cream. The sale of postage stamps to foreign collectors is an
important source of revenue. The island in recent years has suffered
a serious loss of population because of migration of Niueans to New
Zealand.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$2.4 million (1993 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: NA%

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,200 (1993 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (1992)

Labor force: 450 (1992 est.)

Labor force--by occupation: most work on family plantations; paid
work exists only in government service, small industry, and the Niue
Development Board

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $5.5 million
expenditures: $6.3 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1985 est.)

Industries: tourism, handicrafts, food processing

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: 3 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 3 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: coconuts, passion fruit, honey, limes,
taro, yams, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, poultry, beef
cattle

Exports: $117,500 (f.o.b., 1989)

Exports--commodities: canned coconut cream, copra, honey, passion
fruit products, pawpaw, root crops, limes, footballs, stamps,
handicrafts

Exports--partners: NZ 89%, Fiji, Cook Islands, Australia

Imports: $4.1 million (c.i.f., 1989)

Imports--commodities: food, live animals, manufactured goods,
machinery, fuels, lubricants, chemicals, drugs

Imports--partners: NZ 59%, Fiji 20%, Japan 13%, Samoa, Australia,
US

Debt--external: $NA

Economic aid--recipient: $8.3 million (1995)

Currency: 1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1--1.8560
(January 1999), 1.8629 (1998), 1.5082 (1997), 1.4543 (1996), 1.5235
(1995), 1.6844 (1994)

Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March

Communications

Telephones: 276 (1992 est.)

Telephone system:
domestic: single-line telephone system connects all villages on
island
international: NA

Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1987 est.)

Radios: 1,000

Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)

Televisions: 312 (1991 est.)

Transportation

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 234 km
paved: 0 km
unpaved: 234 km

Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only

Merchant marine: none

Airports: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Police Force

Military--note: defense is the responsibility of New Zealand

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

======================================================================

@Norfolk Island --------------

Geography

Location: Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of
Australia

Geographic coordinates: 29 02 S, 167 57 E

Map references: Oceania

Area:
total: 34.6 sq km
land: 34.6 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area--comparative: about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 32 km

Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 3 nm

Climate: subtropical, mild, little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain: volcanic formation with mostly rolling plains

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Bates 319 m

Natural resources: fish

Land use:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: 25%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: 75% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: typhoons (especially May to July)

Environment--current issues: NA

Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA

People

Population: 1,905 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA

Population growth rate: -0.71% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population

Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population

Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population

Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA

Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman

Nationality:
noun: Norfolk Islander(s)
adjective: Norfolk Islander(s)

Ethnic groups: descendants of the Bounty mutineers, Australian,
New Zealander, Polynesians

Religions: Anglican 39%, Roman Catholic 11.7%, Uniting Church in
Australia 16.4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 4.4%, none 9.2%, unknown
16.9%, other 2.4% (1986)

Languages: English (official), Norfolk a mixture of 18th century
English and ancient Tahitian

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of Norfolk Island
conventional short form: Norfolk Island

Data code: NF

Dependency status: territory of Australia; Canberra administers
Commonwealth responsibilities on Norfolk Island through the
Department of Environment, Sport and Territories

Government type: NA

Capital: Kingston

Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)

Independence: none (territory of Australia)

National holiday: Pitcairners Arrival Day Anniversary, 8 June
(1856)

Constitution: Norfolk Island Act of 1979

Legal system: based on the laws of Australia, local ordinances
and acts; English common law applies in matters not covered by
either Australian or Norfolk Island law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); the UK
and Australia are represented by Administrator A. J. MESSNER (since
4 August 1997)
head of government: Assembly President and Chief Minister George
Charles Smith (since 30 April 1997)
cabinet: Executive Council is made up of four of the nine members of
the Legislative Assembly; the council devises government policy and
acts as an advisor to the Administrator
elections: the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the
governor general of Australia; chief minister elected by the
Legislative Assembly for a term of not more than three years;
election last held 30 April 1997 (next to be held by May 2000)
election results: George Charles Smith elected chief minister;
percent of Legislative Assembly vote--NA

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly (9 seats;
members elected by electors who have nine equal votes each but only
four votes can be given to any one candidate; members serve
three-year terms)
elections: last held 30 April 1997 (next to be held by May 2000)
election results: percent of vote--NA; seats--independents 9

Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Court of Petty Sessions

Political parties and leaders: none

International organization participation: none

Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of Australia)

Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of
Australia)

Flag description: three vertical bands of green (hoist side),
white, and green with a large green Norfolk Island pine tree
centered in the slightly wider white band

Economy

Economy--overview: Tourism, the primary economic activity, has
steadily increased over the years and has brought a level of
prosperity unusual among inhabitants of the Pacific islands.
Revenues from tourism have helped the agricultural sector to become
self-sufficient in the production of beef, poultry, and eggs.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$NA

GDP--real growth rate: NA%

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$NA

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Labor force: 1,395 (1991 est.)

Labor force--by occupation: tourism NA%, subsistence agriculture
NA%

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $4.6 million
expenditures: $4.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY92/93)

Industries: tourism

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: NA kWh

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
nuclear: NA%
other: NA%

Electricity--consumption: NA kWh

Electricity--exports: NA kWh

Electricity--imports: NA kWh

Agriculture--products: Norfolk Island pine seed, Kentia palm seed,
cereals, vegetables, fruit; cattle, poultry

Exports: $1.5 million (f.o.b., FY91/92)

Exports--commodities: postage stamps, seeds of the Norfolk Island
pine and Kentia palm, small quantities of avocados

Exports--partners: Australia, other Pacific island countries, NZ,
Asia, Europe

Imports: $17.9 million (c.i.f., FY91/92)

Imports--commodities: NA

Imports--partners: Australia, other Pacific island countries, NZ,
Asia, Europe

Debt--external: $NA

Economic aid--recipient: $NA

Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1--1.5853 (January
1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996), 1.3486 (1995),
1.3667 (1994)

Fiscal year: 1 July--30 June

Communications

Telephones: 1,087 (1983 est.)

Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: radiotelephone service with Sydney (Australia)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0

Radios: 2,000 (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 1 (local programming station; in
addition, there are two repeaters that bring in Australian programs
by satellite) (1998)

Televisions: 1,500 (1995 est.)

Transportation

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 80 km
paved: 53 km
unpaved: 27 km

Ports and harbors: none; loading jetties at Kingston and Cascade

Merchant marine: none

Airports: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Military

Military--note: defense is the responsibility of Australia

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

======================================================================

@Northern Mariana Islands ------------------------

Geography

Location: Oceania, islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about
three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines

Geographic coordinates: 15 12 N, 145 45 E

Map references: Oceania

Area:
total: 477 sq km
land: 477 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes 14 islands including Saipan, Rota, and Tinian

Area--comparative: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 1,482 km

Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds,
little seasonal temperature variation; dry season December to June,
rainy season July to October

Terrain: southern islands are limestone with level terraces and
fringing coral reefs; northern islands are volcanic

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Agrihan 965 m

Natural resources: arable land, fish

Land use:
arable land: 21%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 19%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 60%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: active volcanoes on Pagan and Agrihan; typhoons
(especially August to November)

Environment--current issues: contamination of groundwater on
Saipan may contribute to disease; clean-up of landfill; protection
of endangered species conflicts with development

Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA

Geography--note: strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean

People

Population: 69,398 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 24% (male 8,459; female 8,197)
15-64 years: 74% (male 24,651; female 26,949)
65 years and over: 2% (male 550; female 592) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 3.99% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 22.19 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 2.42 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 20.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 6.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.36 years
male: 72.19 years
female: 78.72 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.86 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: NA
adjective: NA

Ethnic groups: Chamorro, Carolinians and other Micronesians,
Caucasian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean

Religions: Christian (Roman Catholic majority, although
traditional beliefs and taboos may still be found)

Languages: English, Chamorro, Carolinian
note: 86% of population speaks a language other than English at home

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 96% (1980 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
conventional short form: Northern Mariana Islands

Data code: CQ

Dependency status: commonwealth in political union with the US;
federal funds to the Commonwealth administered by the US Department
of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs

Government type: commonwealth; self-governing with locally
elected governor, lieutenant governor, and legislature

Capital: Saipan

Administrative divisions: none (commonwealth in political union
with the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as
defined by the US Government, but there are four municipalities at
the second order; Northern Islands, Rota, Saipan, Tinian

Independence: none (commonwealth in political union with the US)

National holiday: Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)

Constitution: Covenant Agreement effective 4 November 1986 and
the Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
effective 1 January 1978

Legal system: based on US system, except for customs, wages,
immigration laws, and taxation

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are
US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

Executive branch:
chief of state: President William Jefferson CLINTON of the US (since
20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January
1993)
head of government: Governor Pedro P. TENORIO (since NA January
1998) and Lieutenant Governor Jesus R. SABLAN (since NA January 1998)
cabinet: NA
elections: US president and vice president elected on the same
ticket for four-year terms; governor and lieutenant governor elected
on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election
last held in NA November 1997 (next to be held NA November 2001)
election results: Pedro P. TENORIO elected governor in a three-way
race; percent of vote--Pedro P. TENORIO (Republican) 47%

Legislative branch: bicameral Legislature consists of the Senate
(9 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year
staggered terms) and the House of Representatives (18 seats; members
are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)
elections: Senate--last held NA November 1997 (next to be held NA
November 1999); House of Representatives--last held NA November 1997
(next to be held NA November 1999)
election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--Republicans 8, Democrats 1; House of Representatives--percent
of vote by party--NA; seats by party--Republicans 13, Democrats 5
note: the Commonwealth does not have a nonvoting delegate in
Congress; instead, it has an elected official or "resident
representative" located in Washington, DC; seats by party--Republican
1 (Juan N. BABAUTA)

Judicial branch: Commonwealth Supreme Court; Superior Court;
Federal District Court

Political parties and leaders: Republican Party [Benigno R.

International organization participation: ESCAP (associate),
Interpol (subbureau), SPC

Flag description: blue, with a white, five-pointed star
superimposed on the gray silhouette of a latte stone (a traditional
foundation stone used in building) in the center, surrounded by a
wreath

Economy

Economy--overview: The economy benefits substantially from
financial assistance from the US. The rate of funding has declined
as locally generated government revenues have grown. An agreement
for the years 1986 to 1992 entitled the islands to $228 million for
capital development, government operations, and special programs.
Since 1992, funding has been extended one year at a time. The
commonwealth received $27.7 million from FY93/94 through FY95/96.
For FY96/97 through FY02/03, funding of $11 million will be provided
for infrastructure, with an equal local match. A rapidly growing
chief source of income is the tourist industry, which now employs
about 50% of the work force. Japanese tourists predominate. The
agricultural sector is of minor importance and is made up of cattle
ranches and small farms producing coconuts, breadfruit, tomatoes,
and melons. Garment production is the fastest growing industry with
employment of 12,000 mostly Chinese workers and shipments of $1
billion to the US in 1998 under duty and quota exemptions.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$524 million (1996 est.)
note: GDP numbers reflect US spending

GDP--real growth rate: NA%

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$9,300 (1996 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.5% (1994 est.)

Labor force: 6,006 total indigenous labor force; 2,699
unemployed; 28,717 foreign workers (1995)

Labor force--by occupation: managerial 20.5%, technical, sales
16.4%, services 19.3%, farming 3.1%, precision production 13.8%,
operators, fabricators 26.9%

Unemployment rate: 14% (residents)

Budget:
revenues: $221 million
expenditures: $213 million, including capital expenditures of $17.7
million (1996)

Industries: tourism, construction, garments, handicrafts

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: NA kWh

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: NA%
nuclear: NA%
other: NA%

Electricity--consumption: NA kWh

Electricity--exports: NA kWh

Electricity--imports: NA kWh

Agriculture--products: coconuts, fruits, vegetables; cattle

Exports: $1 billion (1998)

Exports--commodities: garments

Exports--partners: US

Imports: $NA

Imports--commodities: food, construction equipment and materials,
petroleum products

Imports--partners: US, Japan

Debt--external: $NA

Economic aid--recipient: $21.1 million (1995)

Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: US currency is used

Fiscal year: 1 October--30 September

Communications

Telephones: 13,618 (1993 est.)

Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 3

Radios: 15,460 (1995 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 1 (on Saipan and one station
planned for Rota; in addition, two cable stations on Saipan provide
varied programming from satellite networks) (1997)

Televisions: 15,460 (1995 est.)

Transportation

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 362 km (1991 est.)
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km

Waterways: none

Ports and harbors: Saipan, Tinian

Merchant marine: none

Airports: 5 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)

Military

Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

======================================================================

@Norway ------

Introduction

Background: Norway gained its independence from Sweden in 1905.
As a separate realm, Norway stayed free of World War I but suffered
German occupation in World War II. Discovery of oil and gas in
adjacent waters in the late 1960s gave a strong boost to Norway's
economic fortunes. Norway is planning for the time when its oil and
gas reserves are depleted and is focusing on containing spending on
its extensive welfare system. It has decided at this time not to
join the European Union and the new euro currency regime.

Geography

Location: Northern Europe, bordering the North Sea and the North
Atlantic Ocean, west of Sweden

Geographic coordinates: 62 00 N, 10 00 E

Map references: Europe

Area:
total: 324,220 sq km
land: 307,860 sq km
water: 16,360 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly larger than New Mexico

Land boundaries:
total: 2,515 km
border countries: Finland 729 km, Sweden 1,619 km, Russia 167 km

Coastline: 21,925 km (includes mainland 3,419 km, large islands
2,413 km, long fjords, numerous small islands, and minor
indentations 16,093 km)

Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 10 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 4 nm

Climate: temperate along coast, modified by North Atlantic
Current; colder interior; rainy year-round on west coast

Terrain: glaciated; mostly high plateaus and rugged mountains
broken by fertile valleys; small, scattered plains; coastline deeply
indented by fjords; arctic tundra in north

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m
highest point: Glittertinden 2,472 m

Natural resources: petroleum, copper, natural gas, pyrites,
nickel, iron ore, zinc, lead, fish, timber, hydropower

Land use:
arable land: 3%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 27%
other: 70% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 970 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: NA

Environment--current issues: water pollution; acid rain damaging
forests and adversely affecting lakes, threatening fish stocks; air
pollution from vehicle emissions

Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography--note: about two-thirds mountains; some 50,000 islands
off its much indented coastline; strategic location adjacent to sea
lanes and air routes in North Atlantic; one of most rugged and
longest coastlines in world; Norway is the only NATO member having a
land boundary with Russia

People

Population: 4,438,547 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 20% (male 447,607; female 423,844)
15-64 years: 65% (male 1,462,906; female 1,415,992)
65 years and over: 15% (male 286,339; female 401,859) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.4% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 12.54 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 10.12 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 1.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 4.96 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.36 years
male: 75.55 years
female: 81.35 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.77 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Norwegian(s)
adjective: Norwegian

Ethnic groups: Germanic (Nordic, Alpine, Baltic), Lapps (Sami)
20,000

Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 87.8% (state church), other
Protestant and Roman Catholic 3.8%, none 3.2%, unknown 5.2% (1980)

Languages: Norwegian (official)
note: small Lapp- and Finnish-speaking minorities

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99% (1976 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Norway
conventional short form: Norway
local long form: Kongeriket Norge
local short form: Norge

Data code: NO

Government type: constitutional monarchy

Capital: Oslo

Administrative divisions: 19 provinces (fylker, singular--fylke);
Akershus, Aust-Agder, Buskerud, Finnmark, Hedmark, Hordaland, More
og Romsdal, Nordland, Nord-Trondelag, Oppland, Oslo, Ostfold,
Rogaland, Sogn og Fjordane, Sor-Trondelag, Telemark, Troms,
Vest-Agder, Vestfold

Dependent areas: Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard

Independence: 26 October 1905 (from Sweden)

National holiday: Constitution Day, 17 May (1814)

Constitution: 17 May 1814, modified in 1884

Legal system: mixture of customary law, civil law system, and
common law traditions; Supreme Court renders advisory opinions to
legislature when asked; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: King HARALD V (since 17 January 1991); Heir Apparent
Crown Prince HAAKON MAGNUS, son of the monarch (born 20 July 1973)
head of government: Prime Minister Kjell Magne BONDEVIK (since 15
October 1997)
cabinet: State Council appointed by the monarch with the approval of
the Parliament
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following parliamentary
elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority
coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch with
the approval of the Parliament

Legislative branch: modified unicameral Parliament or Storting
which, for certain purposes, divides itself into two chambers (165
seats; members are elected by popular vote by proportional
representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 15 September 1997 (next to be held NA September
2001)
election results: percent of vote by party--Labor 35%, Center Party
7.9%, Conservatives 14.3%, Christian People's 13.7%, Socialist Left
6%, Progress 15.3%, Liberal Party 4.4%, other parties 1.6%; seats by
party--Labor 65, Center Party 11, Conservatives 23, Christian
People's 25, Socialist Left 9, Progress 25, Liberal Party 6, other
parties 1
note: for certain purposes, the Parliament divides itself into two
chambers and elects one-fourth of its membership to an upper house
or Lagting

Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Hoyesterett, justices appointed
by the monarch

Political parties and leaders: Labor Party [Thorbjorn JAGLAND];

International organization participation: AfDB, AsDB, Australia
Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA, FAO,
IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
ISO, ITU, MONUA, MTCR, NAM (guest), NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OPCW,
OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UNMOP,
UNPREDEP, UPU, WEU (associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Tom Erik VRAALSON
chancery: 2720 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Houston, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, and San
Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador David B. HERMELIN
embassy: Drammensveien 18, 0244 Oslo
mailing address: PSC 69, Box 1000, APO AE 09707

Flag description: red with a blue cross outlined in white that
extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is
shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

Economy

Economy--overview: Norway is a prosperous bastion of welfare
capitalism. The economy consists of a combination of free market
activity and government intervention. The government controls key
areas, such as the vital petroleum sector (through large-scale state
enterprises), and extensively subsidizes agriculture, fishing, and
areas with sparse resources. Norway maintains an extensive welfare
system that helps propel public sector expenditures to more than 50%
of GDP and results in one of the highest average tax levels in the
world. A major shipping nation, with a high dependence on
international trade, Norway is basically an exporter of raw
materials and semiprocessed goods. The country is richly endowed
with natural resources--petroleum, hydropower, fish, forests, and
minerals--and is highly dependent on its oil production and
international oil prices. Only Saudi Arabia exports more oil than
Norway. Norway imports more than half its food needs. Oslo opted to
stay out of the EU during a referendum in November 1994. Economic
growth in 1999 should drop to about 1%. Despite their high per
capita income and generous welfare benefits, Norwegians worry about
that time in the 21st century when the oil and gas run out.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$109 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 2.4% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$24,700 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 2%
industry: 30%
services: 68% (1997)

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4.1%
highest 10%: 21.2% (1991)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.3% (1998 est.)

Labor force: 2.3 million (1998 est.)

Labor force--by occupation: services 71%, industry 23%,
agriculture, forestry, and fishing 6% (1993)

Unemployment rate: 2.6% (yearend 1997)

Budget:
revenues: $48.6 billion
expenditures: $53 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1994 est.)

Industries: petroleum and gas, food processing, shipbuilding,
pulp and paper products, metals, chemicals, timber, mining,
textiles, fishing

Industrial production growth rate: 2.7% (1998 est.)

Electricity--production: 103.374 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 0.76%
hydro: 99.23%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0.01% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 112.374 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 4.2 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 13.2 billion kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: oats, other grains; beef, milk; fish

Exports: $39.8 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports--commodities: petroleum and petroleum products 55%,
machinery and equipment, metals, chemicals, ships, fish (1997)

Exports--partners: EU 76% (UK 19%, Germany 10%, Netherlands 11%,
Sweden 9%, France 8%), US 6% (1997)

Imports: $37.1 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Imports--commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals,
foodstuffs

Imports--partners: EU 68% (Sweden 16%, Germany 14%, UK 9%, Denmark
7%, Netherlands 4%), US 6%, Japan 4%(1997)

Debt--external: none?Norway is a net external creditor

Economic aid--donor: ODA, $1.4 billion (1998)

Currency: 1 Norwegian krone (NKr) = 100 oere

Exchange rates: Norwegian kroner (NKr) per US$1--7.4524 (January
1999), 7.5451 (1998), 7.0734 (1997), 6.4498 (1996), 6.3352 (1995),
7.0576 (1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 2.39 million (1994 est.); 470,000 cellular telephone
subscribers (1994)

Telephone system: high-quality domestic and international
telephone, telegraph, and telex services
domestic: NA domestic satellite earth stations
international: 2 buried coaxial cable systems; 4 coaxial submarine
cables; satellite earth stations--NA Eutelsat, NA Intelsat (Atlantic
Ocean), and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions);
note--Norway shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic
countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Sweden)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 46, FM 493 (350 private and 143
government), shortwave 0

Radios: 3.3 million (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 209 (1997)

Televisions: 1.5 million (1993 est.)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 4,012 km
standard gauge: 4,012 km 1.435-m gauge (2,422 km electrified; 96 km
double track) (1996)

Highways:
total: 91,180 km
paved: 67,473 km (including 109 km of expressways)
unpaved: 23,707 km (1997 est.)

Waterways: 1,577 km along west coast; navigable by 2.4 m draft
vessels maximum

Pipelines: refined petroleum products 53 km

Ports and harbors: Bergen, Drammen, Floro, Hammerfest, Harstad,
Haugesund, Kristiansand, Larvik, Narvik, Oslo, Porsgrunn, Stavanger,
Tromso, Trondheim

Merchant marine:
total: 788 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 21,200,416
GRT/33,642,888 DWT
ships by type: bulk 106, cargo 150, chemical tanker 99, combination
bulk 8, combination ore/oil 39, container 19, liquefied gas tanker
86, multifunction large-load carrier 1, oil tanker 143, passenger
12, refrigerated cargo 15, roll-on/roll-off cargo 52, short-sea
passenger 22, vehicle carrier 36
note: the government has created an internal register, the Norwegian
International Ship register (NIS), as a subset of the Norwegian
register; ships on the NIS enjoy many benefits of flags of
convenience and do not have to be crewed by Norwegians (1998 est.)

Airports: 103 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 66
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 29 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 37
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 32 (1998 est.)

Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Norwegian Army, Royal Norwegian Navy (includes
Coast Artillery and Coast Guard), Royal Norwegian Air Force, Home
Guard

Military manpower--military age: 20 years of age

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 1,103,738 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 917,244 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 27,448 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: NA

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.2% (1998)

Transnational Issues